Olivine (Mg,Fe)
2
SiO
4
Fluorite CaF
2
Every
manufactured
product contains
materials
derived from
minerals
Most people are
familiar with
basic metals:
Al in beverage can
Cu in electrical wires
Au in Jewelry
Si in computer chips
Realgar
Beryl (aquamarine)
Pencils = graphite (C)
Baby powder Talc
Mg
3
(Si
2
O
5
)(OH)
4
Quartz is a major
ingredient of
ordinary glass
(Na,Ca)(Fe,Mg,Al,Li)
3
Al
6
(BO
3
)
3
Si
6
O
18
(OH)
4
Tourmaline
Rock: solid
mass of
mineral or
mineral like
matter that
occurs
naturally as
part of the
Earth
Crust Whole Earth
Oxygen 46.3 % 29.5%
Silicon 28.2% 15.2%
Aluminum 8.2% 1.1%
Iron 5.6% 34.6%
Calcium 4.1% 1.1%
Sodium 2.4% 0.6%
Potassium 2.1% 0.1%
Magnesium 2.3% 12.7%
Titanium 0.5% 0.1%
Nickel trace 2.4%
All others trace 2.7%
Abundance of the elements (wt. %)
Any naturally occurring inorganic solid that posses an
orderly crystalline structure and a definite chemical
composition.
Geologists define a Mineral as:
May Be Elements or Compounds
Native Minerals
Form uncombined in
nature
Au, Ag, Cu, S, C
Gold, silver, copper,
sulfur, diamond
Most are compounds
Form from magma
Form as evaporites
Changed by heat,
pressure, or water
Silicates
90% minerals on Earth
Most common
Si, O, and 1 or more
metallic ions
SiO4
Tetrahedron shape
Identifying Minerals
Over 200 known
Can be identified from
physical properties
How can I
tell what
this is?
Identification Properties
COLOR
Least useful
Many have similar
colors
Other elements may
change color
Beryl (emerald)
Colors of Quartz
Identification Properties
LUSTER
The shine in
reflected light
LUSTER TERM DESCRIPTION
adamantine very brilliant - as in diamond
resinous
looks like resin or hardened
tree sap
vitreous
glassy, but not as shiny as
diamond
metallic looks like metal
silky has a smooth and fibrous sheen
pearly smooth and iridescent
greasy looks like it's coated with oil
earthy looks like dirt
LUSTER
Glassy
Adamantine
Greasy
Identification Properties
CRYSTAL SHAPE
Hard to find
Must have room to
grow
Crystal Systems
Cubic
Orthorhombic
Tetragonal
Triclinic
Hexagonal
Monoclinic